Newz Forum: BASEBALL: Astros acquire Darren Oliver from Marlins

Phoenix, AZ (AP) - The Houston Astros have acquired pitcher Darren Oliver from the Florida Marlins in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Oliver, a 33-year-old lefthander, went 2-3 with a 6.44 ERA in 18 games (eight starts) this season for the Marlins. He was 13-11 with a 5.04 ERA in 33 games (32 starts) for the Colorado Rockies in 2003.

This will be Oliver's sixth major league team, as he also has played for Texas (1993-98, 2000-01), St. Louis (1998-99) and Boston (2002).

It's been a disappointing season for the Astros. Earlier this month they fired Jimy Williams and the team is near the bottom of the NL Central, a sharp contrast to the lofty expectations placed on the club at the start of the season after they inked Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte over the winter.